HCMC apartment fire forces hundreds to evacuate amid chaos

The fire broke out at around 7:30 p.m. on the 24th floor of block A3 in The Eratown (also known as Duc Khai) complex on 15B Street, an extension of Nguyen Luong Bang in Phu My Ward.

The fire alarm sounded, prompting residents to rush down the emergency stairs to evacuate, as smoke quickly spread to nearby apartments on the same floor.

Mai Huong, a resident on the 5th floor of block A3, described how she was at home when she heard neighbors shouting about the fire and hurriedly carried her young child to safety. "Everyone was packed together in the emergency staircase, panicking," she recounted.

Thick black smoke was visible from a distance, rising rapidly. Nearly ten fire trucks and ambulances arrived at the scene, and firefighters, along with the building’s management team, worked to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading.

Firetrucks arrive at the Era Town apartment complex in HCMC, Nov. 2, 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Mai Huong

Due to the high floor where the fire started, it took a significant amount of time for firefighters to reach the source. By 8:30 p.m., the fire was brought under control, and rescue teams began a thorough search of the area to ensure no one was trapped.

Police confirmed that an electrical short circuit in the 24th-floor corridor had triggered the fire.

Emergency responders and on-site teams guided more than ten residents from adjacent apartments to safety. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

As of 10:30 p.m., block A3 was still without power, and residents were not yet allowed back into their apartments as authorities continued safety inspections before restoring electricity.

The Eratown apartment complex, a 20- to 30-story development, began construction in 2010 and consists of nine buildings with over 3,000 units.